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_Tobacco_, _Tea_, _Coffee_, and _Chocolate_.
I. The Advantages and Disadvantages attending the Use of these Commodities, are not only impartially considered, upon the Principles of _Medicine_ and _Chymistry_, but also ascertained by _Observation_ and _Experience_.
II. Full and distinct Directions laid down for knowing in what Cases, and for what particular Constitutions, these Substances are either beneficial, or hurtful.
III. The _Chinese_ or _Asiatic Tea_, shewn to be the same with the _European Chamelæagnus_, or _Myrtus Brabantica_.
_The Whole Illustrated with_ COPPER PLATES, _exhibiting the_ Tea _Utensils of the_ Chinese _and_ Persians.
_Ante omnia scire convenit Naturam Corporis; quia alii graciles, alii obesi sunt, alii calidi, alii frigidiores, alii humidi, alii sicciores, alios adstricta, alios resoluta, alvus exercet._
Printed for T. OSBORNE, in _Gray's Inn_; J. HILDYARD, at _York_; M. BRYSON, at _Newcastle_; and J. LEAKE, at _Bath_.
As _Nicolaus Monardus_, in _Simpl. Med. Histor._ has given so full and accurate an History and Description of _Tobacco_, that others have only borrowed their Accounts of it from his Works, we shall, in the Words of that Author, in _Cap. 14_, inform the Reader what _Tobacco_ is, where it is produced, and to what Uses it is applied.
"The Plant _Tobacco_, says he, was formerly used by the _Indians_, and especially by the Inhabitants of _New Spain_, for the Cure of Wounds. A few Years ago it was imported into _Spain_, rather for the Decoration of Gardens, than on Account of its medicinal Virtues: But it is now more celebrated for the latter, than used for the former.
"This Plant is among the _Indians_ called _Picelt_; for the _Spaniards_ first called it _Tobacco_ from a certain Island of that Name, where great Quantities of it were produced.
"It rises to a great Height, and is sometimes as tall as the _Lemon-Tree_. Its Trunk is strait, and sends out many large Branches, which bear Leaves almost resembling those of the _Lemon-Tree_, but larger, like those of the _Burdock_, of a faint green Colour, and a little rough and shaggy, as the Whole of the Plant is. The Tops of the Branches bear Flowers of the Shape of a small Bell, which are white at the Extremities, but of a purple Colour in the Middle; and when these Flowers fall off, they are succeeded by small Heads, which resemble those of the _Black Poppy_, and contain a very small cineritious blackish Seed. The Root is thick, divided into many Parts, internally of a ligneous or woody Nature, Saffron-coloured, bitter, and easily deprived of its Bark: But I am acquainted with no medicinal or other Quality of which it is possessed.